Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-04-15
THE WIDOW YATES.
Why Ex.Postmaser-G General Brady Did
Not Marry Her - The Ceremony
Was About to Be Performed
When the Little Widow Suggested that the
General Deed Over to Her His PIanta
tion-A Goodness Now.
New York Star, April 10.

Llmo during l-S SALSLCuCe, Is HON lullJ
recognized By x-Postmaster-Genera
Brady, whose hopes of matrimony we're
recently blasted in New York. Yesterday
afternoon 9 lady was niboIing pate de
foie gras and slipping French coffee in
DelmOnico's, while chatting in rather g
loud tone to her companion. This lady
was a member of one Of the families at
one time nigh IN the councils OF the ns-
| tioD, and has Wintered in Washington for
many years. She is now en- route to her
home. The substance of her story was
given as follows:
! When Thomas J. Brady was Postmaster
| General Of the United States and at the
zenith Of his power in Washington, he
controlled a. that time 40 eco pOstmasters
and countless mail routes, and distTibut-
! ed patronage with liberal hand. Being
! high in the councils of the Republican
| party, assessments for political purposes
! could be collected amounting to thou
sands of dollars. The campaigns in those
| days DO med with Doodle and spOils, and
| the Postoffice Department was reCOg-
nized as the great headquarters of the
practical politicians.
! About this time q modest and attraC-
! tive widow arrived at Washington from
South Carolina. Her husband had fallen
before the federal bullets at Atlanta,
and his life went out with the Lost Cause,
but she was strongly recommended, and
was given lucrative position in the Post
Office Department by General Brady. They
saw but little of each other for several
yeJrs thereafter until the dark epoch of
official malfeasance fell upon the country.
In the horrors Of suspense during the
Star Route trials General Brady found
one firm friend in Mrs. Yates, the little
widow from the south. General Brady
came cut of those prolonged Judicial
proceedings wrecked in fortune and
health, but with the little widow steadfast
and true. Two years ago q new chapter
opened with the death of Mrs. Brady
Two children were left to the lone
widower, and, having purchased q large
farm down the Potomac river in West
moreland county, Virginia, he set about
recuperating his shattered fortune. Later
on ne occasionally met the bright-eyed
widow, who was more than ever vivaCiOus
and winsome. At length he became Il
frequent visitor at the residence of Mrs.
Yates, on Pennsylvania avenue near
Twenty-third street, in Washington.
They spent long hours st whist and
the General became interested, and it
was not long before he was head-over-
heels in love with the widow. The affec-
ton on his part was reClprOcated and the
happy lovers became ailianced. each had
two grown children, and these four off
spring, as if by common consent, raised
row about the proposed marriage.
General Brady's plantation was worth
ABOUT $4,000 aud Mrs. Yates had small
property, and there YVES no earthly reason
why they should not wed, but the cap
tiOus children protested. Then one of
the daughters became engaged to the son
OF Bishop Paret Of Maryland, but when
the good but arlstocratIc bishop learned
that his proposed daughter-i in laws
mother was likely to we'd General Brady
OF the Star Route notoriety he entered
his protest!
This was d cruel blow. There were
tears and vain pleadiugs, but all to no
purpose. The yoang lady, heart broken,
sailed for Europe several weeks ago and
is now living in England. It was the old
folks turn next. The lovers concluded
to go quietly away and Just be married
without any ado, and tell the children
later on. In discussing the matter the
General had promised to deed his planta-
ton to his tianCe6, SO that there would be
no difficulty about will in case of his
sudden demise. This was the ante-nup-
tIal agreement, but the children did not
sanction it.
The old people slipped quietly away,
came to New York and, calling in two or
three friends, engaged a minister and
prepared for the ceremony. This &C.
Cured at a we'll known down town hotel
q short time ago. The widow was be-
comingly attired in q gray travelling
dress, a dainty hat and bit of lace here
and there to add piquanCy to the cos
tune. She was unmlstakablya charming
woman. The General himself was far
from plain. His full figure and neat
fitting Prince Albert coat made him look
the distinguished gent eman.
The little company gathered in the par
Ior of the hotel, and the happy moment
for the contamination of their fervent
wishes arrived. The rector opened the
prayer book and q solemn hush fell upon
the little circle. The next moment all
ewes were turned toward the door.
slight young man was seen to enter. He
glided noiselessly to the side OF the bride
elect and whispered in her ear. Then
came al awkward pause, while the min
lister &nd the few friends were fairly
dumbfounded at the turn of affairs. Hest
tatingly. with flushed face and bated
BREATH the widow attempted to explain
that it was necessary that the deed con-
veying to her the Virginia plantation
should first be executed. The prayer
book was lowered and the minister turned
toward the sturdy figure of
the eEpectant bridegroom.
The Generals face was a study. His
stubby beard apparently stood straight
out, each Whisker erect and fierce. The
great knots of muscles in his thick neck
swelled as If they would burst through
the heavy skin. His brOWs were lowered
and from his small eyes the fire seemed to
fash in titful CLEANS. Through many a
weary month he had fought for liberty in
the great trial when the whole world
seemed to be in league to crush
him, but never before had he been
called to face such an unexpected
fate as pow confronted him. His
children in Washington were Juggling st
his heertStriDOS on one side and his be-